Heart Sutra

CHINA; Ming dynasty

This manuscript, produced by Zhang Ruitu at the age of 58, contains 6 lines and comprises 292 characters. The Heart Sutra, an important scripture in Buddhism, is often transcribed as an accordion-fold book to facilitate use during ceremonies. This sutra copy was written in a vertical scroll format, which was not as commonly found. The vertical scroll, which was developed during the beginning of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), reached maturity during Zhang Ruitu’s time. It was the original format for calligraphy of the Heart Sutra.
Zhang Ruitu, also known as Wuhua or Changgong, was a Ming dynasty calligrapher and painter from Jinjiang, Quanzhou (present day Fujian). Alongside Xing Tong, Dong Qichang, and Mi Wanzhong, he was regarded as one of the Four Great Calligraphers of the late Ming dynasty. His running and cursive scripts were known to carry sharp angular turns that exuded a unique character. Zhang’s small regular script was also of a high level of maturity and technical competency. This Heart Sutra is a typical example of his small regular script, wherein every stroke begins with a sharp tip landing. The character structure is simple, natural, and rudimentary, which is emulative of Zhong Yao’s calligraphy, but without the hindrance of his controlled orderliness. Combining the unadorned style of Zhang’s characters with the meaning of the sutra text, an unrestrained ambiance is implied and gives the manuscript a unique complexity.